This past Tuesday, South Carolina received 59 of the 160 million Federal stimulus dollars slated for green improvements in the Palmetto State. (8 billion dollars is South Carolina’s total stimulus amount; see the breakdown here.)

The money is allocated for building more energy efficient schools and state facilities, weatherizing low-income homes, and training people for “green collar” jobs. You can read more about this in The Post and Courier’s article, SC to weatherize, boost green energy.

If our government is doing it, what else can we do to go more ‘green’? SCIway’s SC Green Building Guide can help you create a smaller ecological footprint for yourself as well as save you money in the long-term.

Some of our guide highlights are:

● Green buildings like The Circular Congregational Church, Charleston’s oldest church, has added a vegetative roof to a new section.

● A SC State and Federal Financial Incentives for Green Buildings section which features links to government sites like the US Department of Energy’s Consumer Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

● Resources like SC for Green, a compendium of everything green in South Carolina. They link businesses, cities, individuals, and organizations that are green minded.

● Interactive tools like the Household Environmental Calculator, to rate your current footprint and evaluate plans for you to reduce your environmental impact.

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with our SCIway’s SC Green Building Guide and its resources.

If you see something missing from our guide, please contact us at service@sciway.net.

This weekend, The Citadel celebrates its 166th birthday. The college is ushering in its 167th year with its annual Corps Day Weekend – complete with speakers, exhibits, parades, and even a musical narration entitled The Citadel Story. The theme of the weekend is principled leadership. There will be panel discussions and speeches from military experts like Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp who is currently overseeing most of our nation’s civil works infrastructure and military construction. The State newspaper reports that US Senator Lindsey Graham will deliver the keynote address on Friday evening.

The Citadel was founded in 1842 and has an undergraduate program of about 2,000 students who make up the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. Any Charlestonian recognizes these cadets as the short-cropped exercisers along Lockwood Drive with their white belts and navy running gear or the young men walking down King Street in full-dress during a weekend study break.

The school gained public interest from Pat Conroy’s novel, The Lords of Discipline, when it was published in 1980. Conroy, a former student, chronicled the story of a “knob” or “plebe” (a first year cadet) and his emotional and physical trials growing up in a very disciplined environment at a “fictional” military college set in Charleston. It was well-known to most as being The Citadel, though not explicitly said in the novel.

The story was made into a film in 1983 and was planned to be shot on location at The Citadel. The military school film Taps was shot in 1981, and was heard to have presented many shooting delays and burdens to the school. When The Citadel got word of this, they declined to allow the shoot to take place. Some have said the school and its alumni felt that the story also showed Citadel life in a negative light, so some feel that the refusal encompassed that sentiment as well.

Regardless of the differing views, The Citadel has been know to produce great results. The school ranks number 3 nationally for percentage of students who graduate in four years, including master’s level programs. Princeton Review also sings The Citadel’s praise by listing The Citadel School of Business one of the nation’s 290 best business programs.

We certainly wish The Citadel continuing success as one of South Carolina’s best colleges.

Find hotels near The Citadel.

Read more about The Citadel’s accomplishments.

View a video about The Citadel.

Learn more about Daniel Library at The Citadel.

Discover more about South Carolina’s elected officials.

Gaffney Fire Department - Serves citizens through response, education, and fire prevention

Lander Forum - Greenwood - University news, forums, classifieds, and community message board

Natural Imagery - SC photographer’s amazing pictures of flora and fauna throughout our state

Palmetto Animal League - In-home foster care for abandoned animals in the Bluffton-Hilton Head area

Palmetto Free Clinic - Serves the medical needs of uninsured citizens in York County

Save Our Saluda - Protects the Saluda Watershed from environmental effects of development

SCUMS Online - Beautiful photos and facts about mushrooms by the SC Upstate Mycological Society

701 Center for Contemporary Art - Columbia - Encourages an understanding of the role of contemporary art and artists in the larger community

TagRecord.Com - Provides a photographic record of graffiti and street art in South Carolina

Under the Kudzu - A South Carolina native explores his home state - Great history and photos!

We are Radio - Online radio station dedicated to local SC music and musicians, with newsletter, interviews, and an online store

Aiken County History Archive - Decades of Aiken Standard newspaper clippings and photos - compiled and maintained by USC-Aiken

Charleston Parks Conservancy - Public/private partnership to preserve and enhance 120 municipal parks and playgrounds in Charleston

Edisto Island Preservation Alliance - Works to protect Edisto from overdevelopment by encouraging responsible zoning laws as well as family-oriented eco-tourism

Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission - Provides services and infrastructure development for unincorporated areas of Laurens and Greenville counties

Mercy Medicine Clinic - Free medical clinic serving Florence and Dillon counties

New Ideas for a New South Carolina - Have an idea that can improve SC’s economy? Submit it now for a chance to win $12,500 in prize money!

Our Upstate Ancestry - Research census records, schools, cemeteries, and churches in the Greenville County area

Paws Animal Wildlife Sanctuary - Lauren’s County group offers wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and outreach, as well as humane “pest” remedies

REDUX Contemporary Art Center - Non-profit contemporary arts center in downtown Charleston houses studio facilities and exhibition space

Remember My Name - ETV’s look at South Carolina’s startling rank as second in the nation for women killed by abusive partners

Aynor Chamber of Commerce - Local history, membership directory, events, and photo gallery - Horry County

Caring in our Lifetime - Fundraising organization provides financial assistance to breast cancer patients in Georgetown and Horry counties

Greenville County Historical Schools - Index of 19 historic schools with links to extensive research and information - lots of great photos!

Liquid Highway - Greenville-area cafe donates 100% of its profits to the Touch the Ground Foundation

Palmetto State Base Camp - Provides housing and rehabilitation for homeless veterans in Columbia

Rediscovering Charleston’s Colonial Fortifications - Blog about the old walled city by Charleston County Public Library’s Special Collections Manager, Nic Butler

SC Election Watch - Non-partisan blog supplies news, analysis, and opinion about 2008 presidential, congressional, and state elections - presented by the South Carolina Association for Justice

SCElectsWomen.Com - SC ranks last in the US for women elected to public office - website features profiles of current women candidates in our state - presented by the Southeastern Institute for Women in Politics

Spartanburg Housing Authority - Provides low-income housing and promotes neighborhood revitalization

Town of Ridge Spring - Handsome new site celebrates this Saluda County community

Coastal Rescue Mission - Faith-based organization providing health and human services to the homeless of Horry County

Greenville Rape Crisis Center - Provides services to survivors of child abuse and child sexual abuse in Greenville County

Homeownership Resource Center - First-time homebuyer workshops, mortgage default counseling, reverse mortgage counseling, and credit analysis workshops.

Lake Murray Country Interactive Map - Includes points of interest around Lexington, Newberry, Richland, and Saluda counties

North Charleston and American LaFrance Fire Museum and Educational Center - Chronicles evolution of fire-fighting methods while teaching about fire safety and prevention - also features antique equipment & tools

Our Region, Our Plan Survey - Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Government’s Regional Land Planning Committee wants locals’ input on area growth and conservation plans

SCIway’s Guide to Preschool and Early Education - Just in time for school, our guide to Head Start programs, childcare centers, and preschools across SC

South Carolina Library Obituary Project - State Library’s directory of resources for accessing SC obituaries

Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution - Historians dedicated to the research and documentation of the Revolutionary War - site includes an online publication

UpstateSORBA - Upstate chapter of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association, serving Greenville, Anderson, Spartanburg, Oconee, Pickens, and Laurens Counties

Bin Yah: There’s No Place Like Home - Documentary on the potential loss of Mt Pleasant’s historic African-American communities to urban sprawl

Button King - Bishopville artist Dalton Stevens displays his button art - You’ve just got to see this to believe it!

City of Barnwell - Includes calendar of events, FAQs, and a list of helpful links to businesses and organizations in the Barnwell community

DoTheLightSwitch.com - Information from the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina on how to save energy and money by using compact fluorescent light bulbs

Great Dane Rescue of South Carolina - No-kill sanctuary for abused, neglected, and abandoned Danes throughout the state

Hard Rock Park - Myrtle Beach’s newest attraction - closed Sep 2008, planning to reopen 2009

League of Women Voters of the Clemson Area - Nonpartisan political organization advocates education and citizen participation

Marion County Economic Development Commission - Promotes new businesses and relocation of existing businesses to Marion County

Shout About Carolina - Blog highlights family-friendly places in SC - Tips, photos, and videos will help you make the most of your vacation

Your Rec Connection - Great guide to Greenville County parks and events